For centuries, the ancient alchemists worked feverishly in their fruitless attempts to turn base metals into gold.
Fortunately, modern metalsmith Mark D. Haines is having much better luck transforming ordinary metals into art which is how he earns his gold.
‘In this economy, if an artist is still working, that’s a pretty good sign,? said the 38-year-old Addison resident.
Working in the privacy of his studio on E. Romeo Rd. ? which looks like a cross between a machine shop and mad scientist’s laboratory ? Haines shapes, twists and bends various alloys into eye-pleasing creations for his clients.
Haines got his start growing up on a livestock farm in Indiana where he helped maintain machinery and learned valuable skills.
‘By the time I was 9 years old, I could weld,? he said. ‘Working with my hands was always natural.?
It was during his high school days in Midland in the 1980s that Haines, 38, fell in love with metalworking.
He later refined and honed his skills at Siena Heights University in Adrian and the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
‘I’ve been trained in everything from jewelry and fine metals to blacksmithing and fabrication,? Haines said. ‘I can do small-scale or large-scale.?
Over the years, most of Haines beautiful metalsmithing has revolved around creating functional items such as fences, staircases, arbors, benches, birdcages and ornate fireplace doors and screens.
‘I get a lot of people that have these wild ideas and they come to me (to make them a reality),? he said.
Recently, Haines completed a metal sculpture for a local couple’s ‘powder room? that appears as though it could hang in a museum or a high-end gallery in downtown Birmingham.
‘It’s such a divergence from what I normally do,? he said. ‘This is one of the very first objects that I’ve made where its only purpose is as a visual stimulus.?
The 6-foot-by-2?-foot sculpture, designed to hang on a wall, is a composite piece consisting of 31 individual sculptures made of bronze, steel and copper.
‘Each one was quite time-consuming (to make),? Haines said. ‘I was lucky to get one or two done a week.?
While building the individual sculptures was ‘fun,? Haines admitted that ‘trying to create a composition that made sense, that kept the eye traveling, was really a challenge.?
Haines said the couple approached him about creating something ‘very unusual? to adorn their powder room. ‘They wanted to have an object of art you could look at and find something new each time,? he said.
Haines said the sculpture isn’t an abstract representation of some grand ideal. It’s simply a decoration.
But he said it does beg the question, ‘Can pure decoration be an object of art??
It’s a question Haines plans to delve into as he continues to transform his unique visions into metallic realities.
‘This is the beginning of something for me,? he said. ‘I’m looking forward to exploring this even further.?
For more information about Mark Haines Metalsmithing call (989) 494-9655 or e-mail him at markhainesmetalsmithing@hotmail.com.